North Carolina solar 101: must read before you buy solar panels

The US government wants more people to go solar: it’s a modern and green way of getting energy. This is why the Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) program was developed. It allows American citizens to claim 30% of the cost of their installation as an income tax deduction. The cost here is not only solar panels, but also shipping, installation expenses and more. For example, if your system overall made you spend $10,000, the government returns you $3,000. To claim the ITC, complete all the necessary forms and submit them when filing your taxes.

Solar laws in North Carolina oblige electric utilities to offer Net Metering. It allows residential solar owners to put the excess electricity into the utility grid instead of storing it with batteries. When you sell your solar power to the grid, you receive credits that can be used to offset your next bills. Their value is determined according to avoided cost rates set forth by the North Carolina Utilities Commission. Once a year all unused credits expire.

Renewable Energy Credits are certificates granted to any person or entity upon generation of each MWh of clean electricity. Unlike with Net Metering, you don’t need to sell any electricity to get credits. There is one platform in North Carolina that allows you to store and sell them: NC-RETS. The value of RECs is always changing, which makes them similar to stock market assets. Based on the available data, selling PECs could mean anywhere from $300 to $1,000 annually for a 10 kW solar system. To participate, follow this detailed instruction. Keep in mind that the utilities will own your RECs unless you use a time-of-use demand (TOUD) tariff.

A solar PV system installed in a home increases its value by about 4%, says a 2019 Zillow report. You could end up paying higher property taxes in other states, but not in North Carolina. According to the state laws, 100% of the value added as a result of a solar PV system installation should be exempt from property tax as non-business personal property.

It is legal to install solar panels on your house in North Carolina. The state makes unlawful any prohibitions of this kind, including those implemented by homeowners associations (HOAs). However, some restrictions are allowed by the legislation. These include size or aesthetic requirements, but only if they do not prevent homeowners from effectively using a PV system. Prohibiting solar arrays visible from the ground is also possible in North Carolina.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, North Carolina is one of the five states where hurricanes hit most often. Overpowering winds damage the infrastructure and wreak havoc, living people without electricity for days and even weeks. PV modules have the strength to withstand most hurricanes, and they will be of great value in case of a blackout. In 2020, hurricane Zeta caused almost half a million blackouts across North Carolina. This is a big number, considering that Zeta is far from being one of the worst disasters in the state’s history. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, extreme weather events will hit more and more often and gain in intensity. This is a good reason to consider going solar.